Hi,

Can someone talk me through swapping out a tube in the MXL V69 ME.... i have a Mullard CV 4024 to put in and have opened the mic but I am unsure how to pop out the stock tube. There is a "white ceramic" bottom and top with rust colored rubber protective rings on both top and bottom of tube.

Appreciate the help...

Carl

Carl, I only did it twice and it's been awhile and I no longer have the mic so.......

If you post a pic it will help.

Basically, it has a rubber holder at the top of the tube. If I remember correctly you can remove that and then just gingerly work the tube out.

One thing I will tell you, is that while it's not rocket surgery, it will take more time than with an amp because of the lack of room.

When I did it the first time I remember that I did some dissasembly, lossening the screws etc. because I wasn't sure and didn't want to rip the rubber tube holder.

I didn't have to do it after that.

Again, to summarize, if I remember correctly, just remove the tube holder (or depress it), take your time, and slowly work the tube out.

Carl, I have had mine out a few times.

Remove the two small screws that hold the rubber that holds the tube socket (the part that the tube plugs in to). Then you can slip the rubber off the bottom of the tube socket and it will slide out sideways pretty easily. There is enough wire length on it to pull the tube and socket a little out of the bracket that holds them.

Change the tube and put the pointy end in first, then work the socket end back into place, slide the rubber back on, and replace the screws.

It took me a while to figure out, but it comes out fairly easily that way.

Thanks Mad and Dudge...

i'm going to give it a go tomorrow. Dudge, I wondered about the screws.

Carl

Well that was an adventure... got the new tube in and it seems to have added a bit of smoothness to the high end... I like it.

However I am having a problem with noise.. with the old stock tube in as well... I am afraid the mic has an issue. I have heard this sound before and only in faulty mics. Sounds like someone is blowing on the capsule.

Carl, I had the same issues with two different Mullard ECC81s.

The first one was just making more of a hiss or wind noise, the second was popping and crackling. If it wasn't for the noise, those Mullards both smoothed the high end and seemed to make the sound a little fatter, too.

Both these tubes were used so if I try this one more time I'm going to pay the bucks for a NOS one from a reputable tube seller and specify that it be low noise for use in a microphone.

My original MXL tube is back in the mic and it works fine with it.

I think it's just a case of not getting a good tube yet.

Hey dudge,

I was having the same problem with the stock tube from MXL and I was hoping the new tube would solve it. I used a Mullard CV 4024/12 AT7 from Upscale Audio. His Gold rated version... this is a tested tube and should work well. I am going to switch the old tube back in and see if there is any difference.

I have heard this same noise from bad mics that were non tube and my guess is that it is a different problem but I don't really know...

Thanks,
Carl

If you are having the problem with both tubes, it may be something else, then. Sorry to hear that. MXL are good with warranty sevice. My V69 died and I sent it back and they sent me a new one, no problem.